SECTOR 1 1.3 There are no laws or parts of laws restricting freedom of expression such as excessive oficial secrets or libel acts, or laws that unreasonably interfere with the responsibilities of media. here are oicial laws in place which in efect restrict freedom of expression. hese are the laws that talk about public order which include wordings that make room for all manner of interpretation by the public authorities. Another law in this category is the law on oicial secrets or libel acts which consequently restrict journalists from gaining access to information since sanctions would be imposed on them. In a general manner, the right to information is not only restricted by a host of laws but also by a system of practice in Benin which gives the impression everything is a state secret, according to one of the panelists. When a journalist is pursued for defamation it is diicult for him/her to escape sanctions from the judge, even if there is infallible proof on the allegations. He/she is accused of intruding in state and administrative documents. According to one of the panelists, this indicator should be understood in the light of the government’s penal policy which, despite the availability of laws that restrict freedom of expression, could choose not to allow the institutions to implement them. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.5 (2007=1.4 ; 2009=1.5) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2011 77